Actuator for spray container and method regarding same

Abstract

Actuator apparatus for spray containers and methods of manufacturing actuator apparatus for spray containers. The actuator apparatus includes a cover having a restraint structure, e.g., locatable below an aperture portion of a push button of a base, to restrict the push button from depression by a user when the actuator apparatus is in a locked position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of manufacturing a cover for an actuator apparatus having a base comprising a lower portion and a centrally-located push button depressibly attached to the lower portion, wherein the method of manufacturing comprises:
 providing a mold defining a cavity for forming the cover, wherein the cover defines a centrally-located push button opening that permits access to the push button of the base when assembled with the base, wherein the cover comprises: 
 an inner wall portion lying along an axis of the actuator apparatus when assembled with the base, wherein the inner wall portion defines at least a portion of the push button opening; 
 an outer wall portion at a distance further away from the axis than the inner wall portion when assembled with the base, wherein the outer wall portion defines a spray opening; and 
 a restraint structure extending from the inner wall portion, wherein at least a portion of the restraint structure is located closer to the axis of the actuator apparatus when assembled than the inner wall portion of the cover, 
 wherein the mold comprises: 
 a first mold portion defining a first molding surface corresponding to at least outer and inner wall portion surfaces of the cover facing a first direction and at least a lower surface of the restraint structure; and 
 a second mold portion defining a second molding surface corresponding to at least outer and inner wall portion surfaces of the cover facing a second direction opposite from the first direction and at least an upper surface of the restraint structure; 
 positioning the first mold portion relative to the second mold portion such that the first molding surface of the first mold portion and the second molding surface of the second mold portion define the cavity of the mold for forming the cover; 
 introducing moldable material into the cavity of the mold; forming the cover from the moldable material within the cavity of the mold; 
 moving the first mold portion relative to the second mold portion for removing the cover from the cavity of the mold; 
 removing the cover from the cavity of the mold; 
 wherein the centrally-located push button comprises: 
 a body portion extending along an axis of the actuator apparatus between a first end region connectable to the lower portion of the base and a second end region to be contacted for depression of the push button by a user, 
 an aperture portion extending radially from a region of the body portion with the aperture portion defining an exit aperture, and 
 a receiver stem portion for receiving a valve assembly, wherein the receiver stem portion defines an entrance aperture, wherein a fluid passageway extends between the entrance aperture and the exit aperture, wherein the centrally-located push button is movable relative to the lower portion of the base between at least a normal position and a depressed position, wherein the centrally-located push button actuates the valve assembly when in the depressed position to provide a spray through the exit aperture, and wherein the centrally-located push button opening permits access to the second end region of the body portion of the push button to allow depression of the push button by the user, wherein the cover and the base are movable relative to each other between at least a locked position such that the push button is restricted from moving into the depressed position and an unlocked position such that the push button is allowed to move into the depressed position, 
 wherein the cover further defines a spray opening alignable with the exit aperture of the aperture portion when assembled with the base and when the cover is in the unlocked position, and 
 further wherein the restraint structure is locatable below and underneath the aperture portion of the push button of the base to restrict the push button from moving into the depressed position when the cover is in the locked position. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises only one restraint structure. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the cover with the mold comprises at least one of compression molding, injection molding, and transfer molding. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the restraint structure of the cover directly contacts a lower surface of the aperture portion of the push button to restrict the push button from moving into the depressed position when the cover is in the locked position. 
     
     
       5. A method of manufacturing a cover for an actuator apparatus for a spray container, wherein the actuator apparatus comprises a base comprising:
 a lower portion couplable to the spray container; and 
 a centrally-located push button depressibly attached to the lower portion, wherein the push button comprises:
 a body portion extending between a first end region connectable to the lower portion of the base and a second end region to be contacted for depression of the push button by a user; and 
 an aperture portion extending radially from a region of the body portion, wherein the push button is movable relative to the lower portion of the base by depression of the push button by the user, wherein the aperture portion defines an exit aperture; 
 
 
       and wherein the method of manufacturing comprises:
 providing a mold defining a cavity for forming the cover, wherein the cover defines a centrally-located push button opening that permits access to the second end region of the body portion to allow depression of the push button by the user when assembled with the base, wherein the cover and the base are rotatably movable relative to each other between an unlocked position and a locked position when the cover is assembled with the base, wherein the cover comprises:
 a cylindrical inner wall portion lying parallel to an axis of the actuator apparatus when assembled with the base, wherein the cylindrical inner wall portion defines at least a portion of the centrally-located push button opening, 
 an outer wall portion at a distance further away from the axis than the cylindrical inner wall portion when assembled with the base, wherein the outer wall portion defines a spray opening, and 
 a restraint structure extending from the cylindrical inner wall portion, wherein at least a portion of the restraint structure is located closer to the axis of the actuator apparatus when assembled than the cylindrical inner wall portion of the cover, and wherein the cover defines a spray opening alignable with the exit aperture when assembled by rotating the cover and the base relative to each other when in the unlocked position, 
 
 
       and wherein the mold comprises:
 a first mold portion defining a first molding surface corresponding to at least outer wall portion surfaces and cylindrical inner wall portion surfaces of the cover facing a first direction and at least a lower surface of the restraint structure; and 
 a second mold portion defining a second molding surface corresponding to at least outer wall portion surfaces and cylindrical inner wall portion surfaces of the cover facing a second direction opposite from the first direction and at least an upper surface of the restraint structure, wherein the upper surface of the restraint structure is locatable below and underneath the aperture portion of the push button when assembled with the base to restrict the push button from moving into the depressed position when the cover is in the locked position; 
 positioning the first mold portion relative to the second mold portion such that the first molding surface of the first mold portion and the second molding surface of the second mold portion define the cavity of the mold for forming the cover; 
 introducing moldable material into the cavity of the mold; 
 forming the cover from the moldable material within the cavity of the mold; 
 moving the first mold portion relative to the second mold portion for removing the cover from the cavity of the mold; and 
 removing the cover from the cavity of the mold. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cover comprises only one restraint structure. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein forming the cover with the mold comprises at least one of compression molding, injection molding, and transfer molding. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cylindrical inner wall portion of the cover further defines:
 a first stop surface operable with the aperture portion of the push button of the base to stop the cover from moving past the unlocked position; and 
 a second stop structure operable with the aperture portion of the push button of the base to stop the cover from moving past the locked position. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the lower portion of the base further comprises first and second female locking structure, wherein the outer wall portion of the cover further comprises a male locking structure located on an interior surface of the outer wall portion, wherein the male locking structure of the outer wall portion engages the first female locking structure of the lower portion of the base when the cover is in the locked position, and wherein the male locking structure of the outer wall portion of the cover engages the second female locking structure of lower portion of the base when the cover is in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein each female locking structure of the first and second female locking structures of the lower portion of the base comprise a first and second rib, wherein each rib of the first and second rib extend outwardly from the lower portion of the base; and wherein the male locking structure of the outer wall portion of the cover comprises:
 a deflectable portion for deflectably engaging the first rib of the first female locking structure of the lower portion of the base when the cover is moving into the locked position and for deflectably engaging the first rib of the second female locking structure of the lower portion of the base when the cover is moving into the unlocked position; and 
 a rigid portion for engaging the second rib of the first female locking structure of the base when the cover is moved into the locked position to stop the cover from moving past the locked position and for engaging the second rib of the second female locking structure of the base when the cover is moved into the unlocked position to stop the cover from moving past the unlocked position. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cover further comprises an annular flange located on an interior surface of the outer wall portion of the cover extending inwardly towards the axis of the actuator apparatus to engage at least one deflectable cover retention rib of the lower portion of the base when assembled to couple the cover to the lower portion of the base. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the spray container contains a liquid material. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid material contained by the spray container comprises paint.